Until 1917, the city was officially referred to as Mitau. The name Jelgava is believed to be derived from the Livonian word jālgab, meaning “town on the river.”
The city’s main football team, FK Jelgava, plays in the Latvian Higher League and has won the Latvian Football Cup four times.
The Livonian settlement Jelgava began developing between the rivers Lielupe and Driksa during the 10th century.
Jelgava was the capital of the united Duchy of Courland and Semigallia (1578–1795) and the administrative centre of the Courland Governorate (1795–1918).
Jelgava is the largest town in the region of Zemgale (Semigalia).
Jelgava is situated on a fertile plain rising only 3.5 metres (11.5 feet) above mean sea level on the right bank of the river Lielupe.
